From Non-Advanced Disease to Mast Cell Leukemia: Diagnostic, Morphologic, and Molecular Heterogeneity of Systemic Mastocytosis in a Single-Center Real-World Series

Background/Objectives: Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a heterogeneous clonal mast-cell neoplasm requiring integrated clinical, biochemical, morphological, immunophenotypic, and molecular assessment. This study aimed to characterize the diagnostic and biological heterogeneity of SM across different disease phenotypes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed six patients with SM diagnosed and managed between 2018 and 2022 at a single center. Clinical presentations, organ involvement, serum tryptase concentrations, bone marrow morphology, immunophenotypic and molecular findings, treatment, and outcomes were analyzed. Results: The cohort included four males and two females aged 16–86 years. Cutaneous manifestations occurred in five patients and frequently preceded diagnosis. All patients had bone marrow involvement, with variable mast-cell infiltration and aberrant CD25 and/or CD2 expression. Serum tryptase concentrations ranged from 15.8 to 348 μg/L. The highest concentration occurred in Patient 5, who had a FIP1L1::PDGFRA-positive myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm with eosinophilia and prominent systemic mast-cell involvement. In contrast, Patient 6, diagnosed with mast cell leukemia, had a tryptase concentration of 28.5 μg/L despite extensive marrow and peripheral blood involvement. KIT mutations were detected in five patients, while Patient 6 tested negative. Conclusions: This series highlights the marked clinical and biological heterogeneity of SM and the potential discordance between serum tryptase concentrations, mast-cell burden, molecular findings, and disease aggressiveness. Accurate diagnosis and disease characterization require an integrated multidisciplinary approach.

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Publication Details

Journal
Diagnostics
Published
2026-10-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics16213499
Primary Topic
Mast cells and histamine
Type
article
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article

From Non-Advanced Disease to Mast Cell Leukemia: Diagnostic, Morphologic, and Molecular Heterogeneity of Systemic Mastocytosis in a Single-Center Real-World Series

Ariela Ligia Olteanu, Liliana Mocanu, Gabriela Mariana Iancu, Alina Cătană et al.
Diagnostics
Mast cells and histamine
article

From Non-Advanced Disease to Mast Cell Leukemia: Diagnostic, Morphologic, and Molecular Heterogeneity of Systemic Mastocytosis in a Single-Center Real-World Series

Ariela Ligia Olteanu, Liliana Mocanu, Gabriela Mariana Iancu, Alina Cătană, Lidia-Maria Mondoc, Corina Porr, Livia Draghila
article en

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a heterogeneous clonal mast-cell neoplasm requiring integrated clinical, biochemical, morphological, immunophenotypic, and molecular assessment. This study aimed to characterize the diagnostic and biological heterogeneity of SM across different disease phenotypes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed six patients with SM diagnosed and managed between 2018 and 2022 at a single center. Clinical presentations, organ involvement, serum tryptase concentrations, bone marrow morphology, immunophenotypic and molecular findings, treatment, and outcomes were analyzed. Results: The cohort included four males and two females aged 16–86 years. Cutaneous manifestations occurred in five patients and frequently preceded diagnosis. All patients had bone marrow involvement, with variable mast-cell infiltration and aberrant CD25 and/or CD2 expression. Serum tryptase concentrations ranged from 15.8 to 348 μg/L. The highest concentration occurred in Patient 5, who had a FIP1L1::PDGFRA-positive myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm with eosinophilia and prominent systemic mast-cell involvement. In contrast, Patient 6, diagnosed with mast cell leukemia, had a tryptase concentration of 28.5 μg/L despite extensive marrow and peripheral blood involvement. KIT mutations were detected in five patients, while Patient 6 tested negative. Conclusions: This series highlights the marked clinical and biological heterogeneity of SM and the potential discordance between serum tryptase concentrations, mast-cell burden, molecular findings, and disease aggressiveness. Accurate diagnosis and disease characterization require an integrated multidisciplinary approach.

DiagnosticsVol. 16(21)
Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (RO), Spitalul Clinic Judetean de Urgenta Sibiu (RO)
Openalex Percentile: Top 19%
Mast cells and histamine
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